China calls for immediate de-escalation in Lebanon-Israel conflict

China called on relevant parties to cease hostilities in Lebanon and work to cool down tensions as soon as possible, China's permanent representative to the United Nations said Wednesday at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict.

At the meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has recorded more than 4,000 weapons fired since early March.

The UNIFIL has also observed Israeli forces entering Lebanese territory at multiple locations, while the hostilities have repeatedly endangered the safety of UN peacekeepers.

The exchanges of fire along the temporary boundary known as the Blue Line constitute a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, said Lacroix.

Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said at the meeting that the humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected areas is deteriorating rapidly, stressing that the international community must return to the path of rational diplomacy and peaceful settlement.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, noted that China condemns any attacks targeting against civilians and diplomatic personnel, calling on all parties to cease hostilities, work to de-escalate tensions, and fulfill their obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law.

"Israel should immediately withdraw its troops from Lebanon. We welcome the Lebanese government's positive statement on ending the conflict and support efforts to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," said Fu.

At the same time, the international community should step up assistance to Lebanon and support the Lebanese government in stabilizing the domestic situation and ensuring basic livelihoods, he said.

China also strongly condemns attacks targeting UNIFIL and is willing to work with the international community to promote de-escalation of the Lebanon-Israel situation and restore peace and stability in Lebanon and the broader Middle East, Fu said.

China calls for immediate de-escalation in Lebanon-Israel conflict

The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 634, including 91 children and 47 women, while 1,586 people have been wounded, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday.

According to Nasreddine, the ongoing hostilities have also severely affected the health sector. He reported 22 attacks on medical facilities and services, including incidents targeting Red Cross ambulances.

The minister added that 15 health workers have been killed and 45 others wounded since the escalation began.

Meanwhile, the conflict has displaced 816,000 Lebanese, according to figures announced by Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed at the same press briefing.

Sayed said that 816,000 people have registered on the ministry's relief platform as displaced. Of them, about 126,000 people are currently sheltering in 589 designated centers across the country.

Sayed added that the government is working on the ground to guide displaced families to available centers and arrange transportation to ensure they reach safe locations.

At least 17 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported Wednesday.

In retaliation, Hezbollah started the "Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul" operations, launching rockets intensively toward northern Israel, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

The group said it launched rocket salvos at multiple Israeli military sites, including the Northern Command headquarters at the Dado base, the Ein Zeitim base, and targets near Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariyya, Haifa, and Lake Tiberias.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it began a "large-scale attack wave of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburb on Wednesday night in response to Hezbollah's rocket launches.

On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov 27, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out intense airstrikes on multiple Lebanese areas and border ground incursions.

Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to 634